The Diaper Change Hold

[Pragmatist]

Originally Posted by Blueberrybabies

An alternative that has also worked well for me with my bigger guy is to sit beside the child and use my leg over torso and arms.

This is what I did also. I don't think my feet would have held my dd.

[Blue-EyedLady]

Originally Posted by ArmsOfLove

I hold their feet in one hand and lift them. I don't spread their bottom as much as I wipe inside of it. Not sure if that makes sense written out

The key is that no body limb is unattended and able to flail about And I do hold them firmly--but not roughly and it's not tight. Just secure

I think I understand what you're describing above... I guess my boy just has a chubby bottom, but I've got to spread his bottom apart to get all the poo cleaned up - even when it's a "normal" poo (not diarrhea).

Maybe this is just the wrong hold for the job I have to do... Would you use this hold for a poop-splosion where the poo has covered every bit of skin normally covered by a diaper? You know - the kind where sticky, goopy mess is in every crack, fold, and crevice possible, and you need 45 wipes to clean it up? Or is this hold just for the quick-y changes where the diaper is only wet or the poo is solid and a quick wipe will do it? I can see the hold working for that sort of change.

BTW - I think you must be a stronger lady than I am to keep a toddler from wiggling with just your feet and one hand! Maybe I ought to go work out more...

I don't spread Princess Piglet's legs either.

While I have her feet held with one hand, I bring her legs back towards her a bit, so her knees are close to her belly, and lift her a bit. Helps spread the rear area to her chubby rear better lol. That's just me, though.

{gosh, not only could I NOT visualize that right ... but I had to sort of act it out with my hands so I could tell if I had it right. Must be bedtime }

[ArmsOfLove]

This thread is making me laugh

for a poop-splosion I turn on the bath water and use the spray-faucet to hose them off in the tub

[Blue-EyedLady]

Oh. I don't have one of those. Whenever I've tried putting DS in the tub to clean a dirty diaper I end up with a bigger mess than when I started. Poo goes EVERYWHERE, and DS tries to drink the bathwater.

[ArmsOfLove]

when we didn't have one I would run the water without using the stopper and then put the baby in the tub standing up. I'd use a cup to pour the water down them and a washcloth to wipe them down. If it was really bad then when that was done I'd rinse out the tub and fill some water in it for a little bubble bath

[Blue-EyedLady]

It's really bad - and sometimes several times a day. We can't afford the water bill for DS to take that many baths!

(like I haven't already hijacked this thread enough...) I did too good a job of teaching DS to sit in the tub - he won't stand up in the tub for me now, even when I tell him it's ok. So he sits in the water, gets the water all poopy, then splashes it around the tub (even without the stopper in, the tub drains kind of slow). Does that make sense? I'm amazed at what a mess this boy can make, without even half-trying!

I think I'll stick with my current diaper change posture, at least until the diarrhea clears up... I need the leverage of being able to pretty much lay on DS to spread those rigid legs while I clean him up.

lol! Bit hard on the back though!

[MomtoJGJ]

I think I'm just too short and fat for that if I don't have my legs straight the baby's butt is on me, and if I have them straight I can't bend over and reach their butt or reach to hold their legs up.

I either do it really fast and have their feet bent in front of their chest before they know it (and I have leverage to hold them there without letting them do the stiff as a board thing) Or I hopefully can get some one to come running quickly with cries of HELP POO!!!!! I do also do the sit beside them with a leg over their chest if they are older toddlers who are cranky and overtired and not wanting to lay still a second.

While that hold looks awesome, I really think I need to see you professional mom's change a diaper, you make it sound so easy!

But alas, I can't hold even a tiny babes feet with one hand. And I can't reach the diaper well at all from that angle, I get kicked in the face or chest regularly while changing diapes -- but I'm a hobbit

[BlessedBlue]

BlueEyed Lady, it looks to me that you've established a negative cycle re: diaper changes. Your DS expects a negative experience, tenses, has a negative experience and on it goes.

Would it help to do "dry" runs? (I crack myself up. ) Practice the hold playfully when you are NOT in need of changing the diaper. Tickle him, use his foot as a telephone (my dc love that!), sing a song about the different parts of his body a la "Aluetta" or Head and Shoulders. Help him move in to a happier space so that when you do need to change his diaper, he can expect a happier experience, and relax instead of tensing for the inevitable fight.

[Waterlogged]

I tried it this morning - not for poop, but to contain the wiggles - and it worked like a charm! The picture really helped.

[Blue-EyedLady]

Ha - I did it! We had a not-too-bad poopy diaper, so I gave the position a try. DS actually cooperated!

[hey mommy]

I also put the clean diaper under the dirty one before I take the dirty diaper off.. Clean real fast, pull out the dirty diaper & quickly fold the clean one over before you get peed on(not that that has ever happened to me.. ).

[sothisislove]

Originally Posted by Blue-EyedLady

I think I understand what you're describing above... I guess my boy just has a chubby bottom, but I've got to spread his bottom apart to get all the poo cleaned up - even when it's a "normal" poo (not diarrhea).

Maybe this is just the wrong hold for the job I have to do... Would you use this hold for a poop-splosion where the poo has covered every bit of skin normally covered by a diaper? You know - the kind where sticky, goopy mess is in every crack, fold, and crevice possible, and you need 45 wipes to clean it up? Or is this hold just for the quick-y changes where the diaper is only wet or the poo is solid and a quick wipe will do it? I can see the hold working for that sort of change.

BTW - I think you must be a stronger lady than I am to keep a toddler from wiggling with just your feet and one hand! Maybe I ought to go work out more...

HAHAHAHAHAHA You said 'poop-splosion'!!! LOL